Tripster Credits Enhanced ‘UX’ with 50% Increase in Revenues in the First Quarter of 2016

Visitor Conversion Rates Increase 22% Year-over-Year and Produce an 81% Increase in Orders

St. Louis, Missouri – May 2, 2016 – Tripster, providing travelers access to ticketed events, attractions, shows and hotels in specific travel destinations, today announced the Company has recorded an approximate 50% increase in sales revenue for its first quarter, ended March 31, 2016. Revenue growth was attributed to its enhanced user experience (UX) through placement of destination-travel content, website design, and streamlined processing speeds. These factors are also credited with increased visitor conversion rates and orders processed on Tripster’s destination travel websites during the quarter.

In June 2015, Tripster’s management team included consumer usability and behavior testing as a part of its website development process. The Company’s commitment to ongoing conversion rate optimization provides constant split testing and usability studies, which serves as the framework to improve content placement, meet user intent, and boost processing speeds of their proprietary booking engine.

In September 2015, the implementation of the Tripster’s back-end coding and front-end user interface updates began producing increased visitor conversion rates. For the three-month period ended March 31, 2016, the Company recorded a 22% year-over-year increase in visitor conversion rates and an 81% increase in captured orders. Tripster processed 10,755 more orders in the first quarter of 2016 versus the same period prior year.

“The rate at which our business and markets are growing requires we constantly leverage our software’s ability to convert customers while simultaneously connecting an ever-increasing list of suppliers,” stated John Johnson, President of Tripster. “Expanding the back-end software and constantly improving the front–end UX helps customers easily access the content and insight we provide on our destinations and significantly facilitates the bookings of our customers’ choices at each. Customers and partners alike will continually benefit from these enhancements.”

In addition to ongoing website optimization throughout 2016, Tripster has targeted a series of new destination markets to take advantage of their marketing enhancements. Tripster’s platform connects its customers to more than 1,500 travel providers throughout its 12 national, regional and seasonal markets it currently serves. Tripster customers seamlessly purchase a variety of travel supplier products and book their lodging with a secured credit card transaction under a single-user profile.

About Tripster

Since 2001, Tripster has provided more than 2.5 million travelers with destination-specific travel planning and reservation services for ticketed events, world-renowned theme parks, adventure activities, tours, theatrical and music shows, plus hotels and lodging. Using a proprietary booking engine, Tripster customers can access first-hand content and reviews to plan and book entire vacations within a single transaction. In addition, the Company also provides destination marketing organizations and travel suppliers reservation and packaging fulfillment services through white label versions of their proprietary system. Tripster is based in St. Louis MO and currently operates dedicated destination websites in Branson, MO; Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, TN; Myrtle Beach, SC; Williamsburg, VA; New York, NY; San Diego and Los Angeles, CA; Chicago, IL; the Hawaiian Islands; Destin, Panama City Beach, St. Augustine and Orlando, FL.

Tripster, Online Travel Company, Launches Second California Destination

Tripster is excited to announce its expansion into Los Angeles, California. This marks the second destination on the west coast and 13thdestination overall. Los Angeles will continue to strengthen Tripster’s presence in the largest US markets, following their New York City launch in 2014.

According to Ted Stimpson, CEO of Smart Destinations, “Working with Tripster across multiple destinations is a great fit for our company. The value that our Go City Card attraction passes provide to travelers, in combination with Tripster’s lodging packages, benefits the budget minded consumer who seeks to maximize their vacation experience.”

Tripster will feature major theme parks including Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, and Legoland California as well as other attractions and shows. Tripster will provide customers the ability to save on hotel vacation packages with its unique packaging model. It makes purchasing an entire Los Angeles vacation streamlined and simple.

Los Angeles also offers the ability to target not only domestic travelers, but international as well. With so many tourists flocking to Los Angeles each year, Tripster is excited about the new possibilities this market brings.

About Tripster

Tripster is a travel reservation company that markets and serves specific travel destinations to vacationers and businesses, offering local expertise, tickets for attractions, shows and events as well as lodging and hotels. The company also offers fulfillment tools to travel suppliers and other regional travel resources. Tripster is a privately held company, with offices in St Louis and Branson, Missouri.

Online Travel Company, Tripster, Expands into New York City

Launching its fifth new travel website in 2014, Tripster has expanded into New York. This marks the largest market in which Tripster operates and the fourth location along the east coast, joining Williamsburg, Virginia, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and St. Augustine, Florida. As the largest city in the US, expanding into New York City offers big opportunities for Tripster customers.

Similar to the other Tripster destinations, New York City offers attractions and hotels to travelers, but also sells Broadway show tickets, including Wicked, The Lion King, Mamma Mia!, and The Book of Mormon among many others. Travelers can bundle their Broadway shows with sightseeing tours, harbor cruises, and other tours and tickets for iconic New York City attractions.

Through its close relationships with travel suppliers, Tripster is able to provide unique offers for consumers in a one-stop-shop website. Additionally, its unique packaging model allows consumers to save even more when they package their ticketed activities with hotels.

“Tripster offers attractions and theaters a full-featured, yield management tool unlike any other reseller,” said Joey Robinson, Head of Sales & Marketing for Big Bus New York. “Their activity-first approach to destination sales is exciting and we are excited to be a part of their New York City website.”

With millions of tourists coming in from all over the world each year, New York City offers a greater opportunity to target international as well as domestic customers, especially for major attractions like the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, and the many museums in town.

“New York City as a tourist was much less intimidating than I thought it would be, but there is certainly a great deal of travel planning and choices to make,” explains John Johnson, President of Tripster. “With our proven vacation planning model, we aim to give you the confidence you need to book your Manhattan visit.” Many other New York travel suppliers have been extremely receptive to the Reserve Direct consumer and business model.

About Tripster

Tripster is a travel reservation company that markets and serves specific travel destinations to vacationers and businesses, offering local expertise, tickets for attractions, shows and events as well as lodging and hotels. The company also offers fulfillment tools to travel suppliers and other regional travel resources. Tripster is a privately held company, with offices in St Louis and Branson, Missouri.

Tripster Drops Anchor in Sunny San Diego

Following the advice of Horace Greeley who proclaimed, “Go West, young man and grow up with the country,” Tripster has done just that with the launch of its new travel destination, San Diego. As a popular California destination, San Diego marks Tripster’s 12th market and first on the West Coast—not to mention its fourth new travel website in 2014. As with their other destinations, San Diego will feature Tripster’s unique approach to custom vacation planning, ease of booking, and travel deals for area attractions and hotels.

“We are excited to be a part of Tripster and their expansion to the West Coast,” said Jay Judal of the San Diego Zoo. “San Diego and the Zoo will benefit from their approach to destination marketing and direct-to-gate tickets.”

Rich in history and character, San Diego features some of the most popular attractions in the country to include the world famous San Diego Zoo, showcasing over 3700 animals, and the original SeaWorld marine life theme park which opened in 1964. The San Diego Harbor is home to Hornblower Cruises, the Maritime Museum, and the U.S.S. Midway, a retired Naval aircraft carrier. Other attractions throughout San Diego County, and available on Tripster are LEGOLAND California located in Carlsbad and Safari Park located in Escondido.

“As Tripster continues to grow, we are most interested in family vacation destinations that cater to our existing consumer base,” said John Johnson, President of Tripster. “San Diego is a natural fit for our model and sales strategies, and we are fortunate to have some great partnerships with world-renown travel products that also see the benefit of our model.”

Some of Tripster’s other destination websites, like Orlando and Williamsburg, already represent similar travel products like SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Medieval Times, and Legoland Florida, offering the same travel services to customers.

About Tripster

Tripster is a travel reservation company that markets and serves specific travel destinations to vacationers and businesses, offering local expertise, tickets for attractions, shows and events as well as lodging and hotels. The company also offers fulfillment tools to travel suppliers and other regional travel resources. Tripster is a privately held company, with offices in St Louis and Branson, Missouri.

Tripster, an Online Travel Company, Honors 10 Year Employee Anniversary

Tripster, a leader in travel reservations and booking solutions for travel suppliers for 13 years, honored Cary Aguilar June 1st for 10 years of service to the company. Cary, Tripster’s Accounting Manager, started with the company in June of 2004 and is the third employee to reach a ten year work anniversary.

Cary started as a call center agent for Tripster destinations.  During this time he attended Missouri State University in pursuit of a Bachelor of Science in Accounting.  In his third year with the company, a position opened in the accounting department of Tripster.  Cary quickly filled this position, and upon graduation was promoted as the company’s head Accountant.  As Tripster grew to include 10 destinations Cary was responsible for overseeing all product accounts, managing customer transactions and has taken the lead as human resources manager as well.  He is vital to both the supplier and customer aspects of Tripster, and has been a true asset to the company.

Noting his tenure, Cary stated “It doesn’t feel like 10 years, more like five.  Just goes to show time flies when you work for a company where you enjoy what you do.  Being a part of this company has allowed me to thrive both personally and professionally, for which I am grateful.”

“It’s been great having Cary on the team,” stated John Johnson, president of Tripster.  “His attention to detail and commitment to the company is what makes Tripster the reliable company it is today.” Tripster congratulates Cary on 10 years of dedicated service.

About Tripster

Tripster is a travel reservation technology company that focuses on specific travel destinations, offering local expertise and reservations for shows and attractions, as well as hotel reservations to vacationers, families and businesses. The company also offers fulfillment tools to travel suppliers and other regional travel resources. Tripster provides travel service in a variety of markets like Branson, Missouri; Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, Tennessee; Orlando, St. Augustine, Panama City Beach and Destin, Florida; Williamsburg, Virginia; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; San Diego, California and  the Hawaiian Islands.

Travelers Discover St. Augustine, Florida’s Oldest City, with Tripster’s New Destination

It was 1565 when the first European settlers pulled ashore in St. Augustine, Florida. And nearly 450 years later, Tripster has too set claim to the historically quaint coastal town with the launch of its newest destination.  The website features the unique attractions and accommodations that make St. Augustine a popular tourist destination.

As an online travel agency, Tripster provides show and attraction tickets, including The Fountain of Youth Archeology Park, Old Town Trolleys, Zorayda Castle, and Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum. Travel consumers can purchase tickets while also bundling them with area hotels.

“St Augustine is a beautiful city unlike any other,” said John Johnson, President of Tripster. “The climate is great and just about everything you can experience is unique,” he continued. “We are excited to add this to our family of destinations.” Tripster already operates in Orlando, Panama City Beach and Destin, so the launch of ReserveStAugustine.com marks Tripster’s fourth Florida destination.

Tripster’s reservation model allows consumers to plan and book area attractions, amusements, and live shows with accommodations, either a la carte or in money-saving vacation packages. Tripster offers secure and guaranteed bookings with direct-to-gate e-tickets and flexible reservation policies. In addition, consumers will find extra benefit beyond discounts with the ease and convenience of using one website for all of their vacation planning and by signing up for added savings for future travels across Tripster’s other destinations.

St. Augustine served as Florida’s capital when it was a territory, and much of that history is on full display through the architecture of the Bridge of Lions and the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, the oldest masonry fort in the Americas. Visitors stroll down St. George Street, which features original storefronts and unique period-based shops, restaurants, pubs and the oldest wooden schoolhouse in the United States. Across Matanzas Bay, visitors can take in Anastasia State Park, which possesses four miles of pristine beachfront.

Tripster is an online travel agency focused on destination specific leisure travel. Based in Missouri, Tripster has offices in St. Louis and Branson, Missouri and has provided online travel services since 2001. Other Tripster destinations also include Branson; San Diego, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, Tennessee; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Williamsburg, Virginia; and the Hawaiian Islands.

Online Travel Company, Tripster, Honors 10 Year Employee Anniversary

Tripster, a leader in travel reservations and booking solutions for travel suppliers for 13 years, honored Diana Coleman Kersh on March 1st for 10 years of service to the company. Diana, Tripster’s Senior Market Manager, started with the company in March of 2004 and is the second employee to reach a ten year work anniversary.

Diana started as the Market Manager for Tripster at its first destination in Branson, MO, coming to the job with nearly a decade of experience in the Travel and Tourism Industry. Her industry knowledge and drive made her an integral part of the then-small company. As Tripster grew to include 10 destinations Diana was responsible for training new Market Managers and was an energetic component to the ongoing expansion of the company.

“Diana has been instrumental in the growth of our company through her long standing relationships in the travel industry and assume-the-sale approach,” stated Tripster President John Johnson. “Her experience and nurturing manner has also developed well to suit her role guiding all of our market managers. We’ve been lucky to have her onboard.”

Promoted to Senior Market Manager in 2011, Diana now oversees several destinations and Market Managers, providing training, management, and expertise while still serving as the Branson Market Manager. She is an active member in state and local attraction associations in Branson and several other destinations.

Diana said “Being part of the most advanced technology reservation company in the world and having an opportunity to work with all types of travel suppliers – hoteliers, shows, attractions, chambers and associations – in the progressive Internet Sales Market is what makes my career so dynamically rewarding.”

Tripster congratulates Diana on 10 years of dedicated service.
About Tripster
Tripster is a travel reservation technology company that focuses on specific travel destinations, offering local expertise and reservations for shows and attractions, as well as hotel reservations to vacationers, families and businesses. The company also offers fulfillment tools to travel suppliers and other regional travel resources. Tripster provides travel service in a variety of markets like Branson, Missouri; Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, Tennessee; Orlando, St. Augustine, Panama City Beach and Destin, Florida; Williamsburg, Virginia; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and the Hawaiian Islands.

Tripster Celebrates Ten Years of Providing Convenient and Affordable Reservations for Millions of Travelers to the Great Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge

Three million visitors and $30 million in travel sales later, Tripster remains the premier choice for booking hotels and attractions in the Smoky Mountains. The online travel agency (OTA) offers discounted tickets to individual attractions, hotels and lodging, and all-inclusive, customizable vacation packages.

To help travelers get the most out of their experience, complete Smoky Mountains vacation packages are available; these packages include accommodations that range from luxury suites to quaint mountain cabins, along with a choice of tickets to leading area shows and attractions. Some of the most popular tickets on Tripster include:

  • Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede
  • Lumberjack Feud Dinner & Show
  • Titanic Museum
  • Smoky Mountain Opry
  • Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
  • Dollywood
  • Biltmore Estate

Last March, Tennessee native Joan Brock joined the Tripster team, bringing with her 20-plus years of marketing and sales experience in the travel industry. Since then, Brock has been instrumental in negotiating and strengthening relationships with numerous travel suppliers in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and surrounding areas. In fact, she just received a “Friendship Award of the Year” from the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce. Part of her mission going forward will be to expand Tripster’s footprint in this region, which sees over 20 million visitors each year.

Tripster and its family of travel destination sites cater to individual travelers, families and businesses. The common denominator is the convenience and potential savings compared to both competitors and direct booking. Each destination site features informative travel guides and up-to-date news on various seasonal events. Tripster relies on local insight to ensure that vacationers experience the best that every destination has to offer.

The combination of competitive pricing and convenient, one-stop shopping has contributed to Tripster’s near decade of success. Travelers can quickly browse all of their options and then tailor a vacation package to fit their needs. E-Tickets are immediately available for printing upon completion of an order; because all orders are saved in customers’ accounts, tickets can never be lost.

In the past nine years, Tripster has progressively grown its market share in the Smoky Mountains. In fact, 2013 saw a 40% increase over prior year sales numbers and forecasts indicate exceeding that growth in 2014. Economists agree that a sure sign of an improving economy is more people and families going on vacation. By offering compelling vacation savings, Tripster is enabling more people than ever to get away from it all and experience some of America’s greatest destinations.

2013 Sevierville Chamber Friend of the Year: Joan Brock of Tripster

Tripster would like to congratulate Smoky Mountains Market Manager Joan Brock on her 2013 Chamber Friend of the Year Award. The prestigious title, awarded by the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce, honors Brock for her outstanding support and promotion of the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce throughout the year. The award was presented during the annual Membership Breakfast on February 25, 2014.

Brock, who is active in the Smoky Mountain Community, earned the Chamber Friend of the Year Award by accumulating more Friendship Award points than any other member. Points were earned by attending the numerous Chamber networking functions such as ribbon cuttings, volunteering at special events and recruiting new members. Brock’s active member status, as well as her up-to-date knowledge regarding travel trends, also played a factor.

As a thank you for her support of the Sevierville Chamber, Brock received a trophy courtesy of Sign Master and a two night stay, golf and dinner at The Waynesville Inn courtesy of Smoky Mountain Living magazine.

Sevierville Chamber of Commerce Friendship Awards are based on points accumulated monthly from attending Chamber functions and volunteering as well as bringing inactive members and potential new members to Chamber events. Monthly points will go towards determining the next Chamber Friend of the Year Award recipient, who will be honored at the annual Membership Breakfast in 2015.

Top Five Reasons to Visit the Smoky Mountains This Winter

Planning a winter getaway? Consider the picturesque Smoky Mountains in Tennessee.  The quaint mountain villages of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg offer plenty of shopping, dining, and outdoor winter activities to make this a top vacation destination during the cold winter months. Here are our top reasons to visit the Smokies this season.

Play Winter Sports at Ober Gatlinburg
Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort and Amusement Park is open year-round, but offers the most excitement during winter. Choose from skiing or snowboarding on Ober Gatlinburg’s nine trails. They also offer tubing, ice skating, a wildlife encounter, and shops and restaurants. For some of the best views of the Smokies, take a ride on the Aerial Tramway – a 2.1 mile cable car ride that departs from downtown Gatlinburg and ends at the resort. Ober Gatlinburg is open daily.

Tour the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park can be just as beautiful during the winter months, but with much less traffic. Take an auto tour of the park to see panoramic views, historic buildings, and wildlife. The park’s two main roads, Newfound Gap and Little River, remain open in the winter (weather permitting) though some secondary roads are not accessible. Make sure to check with the National Park Service for any road closures.

Explore Pigeon Forge Winterfest
The annual Pigeon Forge Winterfest continues through February 28, 2014. The towns of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville are illuminated with millions of lights and seasonal displays. Heated trolleys give tours of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.

Attend Wilderness Wildlife Week
The 24th annual Wilderness Wildlife Week will be held in Pigeon Forge January 25 – February 1, 2014. Throughout the week there are free activities aimed at connecting visitors to the outdoors. Events include seminars, workshops, guided hikes, and a photography contest.

Keep Warm in a Smoky Mountains Cabin
Many travelers to the Smokies prefer to stay in a secluded cabin in or near the park for amazing views and plenty of peace and quiet. Take advantage of lower winter rates and book a cabin with a Jacuzzi and fireplace for the ultimate winter getaway.

About Tripster
Tripster is a travel reservation company that focuses on specific travel destinations, offering local expertise and reservations for attractions, shows and events as well as lodging and hotel reservations to vacationers, families and businesses. The company also offers fulfillment tools to travel suppliers and other regional travel resources.

Tripster is a privately held company, headquartered in St. Louis. It has offices in Branson, Orlando, Pigeon Forge and Hawaii.